Our history

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1772

Foundation of the Clicquot House

1772

Foundation of the Clicquot House

Philippe Clicquot, from a family of bankers and textile merchants, already owns vinyards and decides to establish a wine business.
From the very beginning, the House states its ambition of "crossing borders".

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1772:
Beginning of James Cook's second voyage. A three year exploration of the sourthern seas as far as the Antarctica.

1805

Madame Clicquot takes over the business

1805

Madame Clicquot takes over the business

When François Clicquot, the founder's son, dies, his widow is 27.
It takes her only a few weeks to come to a decision.
She thus becomes one of the first businesswomen of modern times.

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1803:
Invention of the first steam locomotive.

1810

Creation of the first vintage champagne

1810

Creation of the first vintage champagne

Madame Clicquot proves her innovative prowess by creating the first recorded vintage champagne in the region.

Shipping of 10,550 bottles to Russia

1814

Shipping of 10,550 bottles to Russia

As she gained in boldness and daring, Madame Clicquot overcame the continental embargo that raged in Europe and managed to ship her wine to Saint-Petersburg. Her champagne received a triumphant welcome in Russia, and was praised by Pushkin, Chekhov and Gogol.

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1814: The first steam-powered printing presses are used to print the London Times.

1816

Invention of the riddling table

1816

Invention of the riddling table

Madame Clicquot invents the first riddling table, which guarantees a crystal-clear wine. This process continues to be used today. Madame Clicquot becomes known to her peers as “La Grande Dame” of Champagne.

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1816-1826: Nièpce invents photography.

1818

Creation of the first "Rosé d'assemblage"

1818

Creation of the first "Rosé d'assemblage"

Breaking away from the tradition of adding an elderberry-based preparation to create rosé champagne. Madame Clicquot creates the first "rosé d'assemblage" by blending some of her Bouzy red wines with her champagne.

Registration of the first Yellow Label Trademark

1877

Registration of the first Yellow Label Trademark

The house continues to innovate by dressing its bottles in a yellow label, an unusual colour for the time. The ‘V.Clicquot P. Werlé’ Yellow label trademark is registered on 12 February 1877. Customers demand this distinctive, original label, which was to become one of the main distinguishing features of bottles produced by the House.

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1876:
Thomas Edison invents the phonograph.

1909

Acquisition of the crayères

1909

Acquisition of the crayères

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin implements new techniques and improves its wines yet again with the important oenological discoveries of the times. It extends its industrial heritage, setting up home on the outskirts of Reims in 482 crayères (chalk cellars), former quarries, where the visitors’ centre and production site are now located.

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1903 : The first flight powered and sustained by airplane (O. Wright).

1972

Creation of La Grande Dame and Business Woman Award

1972

Creation of La Grande Dame and Business Woman Award

To mark its 200th anniversary, the House launches its prestigious vintage cuvee La Grande Dame and creates the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award, a tribute to the entrepreneurial spirit of Madame Clicquot.

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1969: Neil Armstrong is the first man to walk on the Moon.

1986

Louis Vuitton acquires Veuve Clicquot

1986

Louis Vuitton acquires Veuve Clicquot

LVMH (Moët-Hennessy - Louis Vuitton) is founded the following year.

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1977: George Lucas releases the first film of the "Star Wars" serie.

2004

Launch of the Veuve Clicquot Rosé

2004

Launch of the Veuve Clicquot Rosé

Launched in Japan during the cherry blossom season, Veuve Clicquot Rosé, the house’s non-vintage Rosé, is so successful that the rest of the world has to wait until 2006 before the house can supply the remainder of the cuvee.

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2004:
Launch of Facebook social media.

2010

A miraculous Baltic Sea discovery

2010

A miraculous Baltic Sea discovery

In July 2010, some truly unique bottles of champagne, comprising 47 of Veuve Clicquot, were discovered in a shipwreck off Finland’ Aland Islands, at the mouth of the Baltic. Despite having spent almost two centuries at the bottom of the sea, their contents are extremely well preserved.

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2010 : Inauguration of the Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai establishing a new world record with its height.

2015

The Crayères are listed a UNESCO's World Heritage

On 5 July 2015, the World Heritage Committee announced its decision to list the Vineyards, Houses and Cellars of the Champagne region as UNESCO World Heritage sites.